Jamie Oliver

Los Angeles Times

"We're losing the war against obesity in the U.S.," says chef Jamie Oliver. "Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents."

Instead of lobbying for policy changes, he's taking his message directly to children. "I've given up on governments," he said in an interview with The Times. "But I have endless hope and faith in people once they are given knowledge and skills. I've certainly seen all over the world in many different communities that, once people have a few skills and confidence, they make different choices in the grocery store. Once they make different choices in the grocery store -- and on the Main Street fast-food restaurants -- then companies will be forced to serve a higher quality offer. That's when the real change happens."

To that end, Oliver launched Food Revolution Day in 2012, a global initiative "to inspire, educate and empower people everywhere to stand up for real food."

"We're losing the war against obesity in the U.S.," says chef Jamie Oliver. "Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents."

Instead of lobbying for policy changes, he's taking his message directly to children. "I've given up on governments," he said in an interview with The Times. "But I have endless hope and faith in people once they are given knowledge and skills. I've certainly seen all over the world in many different communities that, once people have a few skills and confidence, they make different choices in the grocery store. Once they make different choices in the grocery store -- and on the Main Street fast-food restaurants -- then companies will be forced to serve a higher quality offer. That's when the real change happens."

To that end, Oliver launched Food Revolution Day in 2012, a global initiative "to inspire, educate and empower people everywhere to stand up for real food."